Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the regulations for the short-term letting sector published this morning by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. In particular, I am pleased that the Minister has taken on board detailed proposals made by Sinn Féin and in the report on the subject published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government last October. Although we need more detail on the plan, its definition of "short-term letting" and the requirement for planning permission are eminently sensible. However, I am concerned by the proposed eight-month lead-in. The rental sector is in such crisis that we cannot wait eight months before the regulations are put on a statutory footing. I am also concerned that there is no mention of sanctions or fines for online platforms or letting agents which advertise properties that do not conform to the statutory regulations. Although we wish to work with the Government to expedite the legislation as quickly as possible, I seek assurance that the Government is willing to work with us on the lead-in time and sanctions, particularly for online platforms.

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